Twenty Years Later: Seawind 1160XL Follows in the Wake of an Icon

A Journey That Began Twenty Years Ago

In 2006, the first Seawind 1160 delivered to the United States made its debut at the Newport International Boat Show, where it was awarded Boat of the Show. Following the event, Seawind Founder and CEO Richard Ward sailed the catamaran from Newport to Annapolis, beginning a journey that would become an important chapter in Seawind’s history.

The original Seawind 1160 went on to achieve remarkable recognition, winning Cruising World USA Boat of the Year, SAIL Magazine’s Best Boat Award, and Cruising World’s Special Award for Most Innovative Design.

Twenty years later, history is repeating itself.

In September 2026, the next generation Seawind 1160XL made its US boat show debut in Newport, returning to the same waterfront where its predecessor first captured the attention of American sailors.

For Richard Ward and his wife, Kerry Fahey, the occasion presented the perfect opportunity to retrace that original journey, sailing the new 1160XL from Newport towards Annapolis and celebrating two decades of design evolution, innovation and sailing performance.

From Newport to Block Island: An Unexpected Adventure

Following the Newport International Boat Show, Richard and Kerry departed Newport, accompanied on the first leg by renowned sailor and marine journalist Herb McCormick and Lydia Mullan, sailor, marine journalist and Managing Editor of SAIL Magazine.

Their first destination was Block Island, approximately 30 nautical miles away.

With a powerful low pressure system developing off the Atlantic Coast, conditions were already challenging. Northeasterly winds of 15 to 20 knots greeted the crew as they motored out of Newport Harbour.

They raised the mainsail with a single reef, set the full jib and headed towards Block Island.

But the conditions quickly intensified.

The seas built to three to four metres, while winds increased to 30 knots, with gusts reaching 38 knots. Sailing on a broad reach, the new Seawind 1160XL handled the conditions confidently, maintaining speeds between 8 and 12 knots.

As Richard recalls, they were carrying more sail than ideal for the conditions, but with their destination relatively close and reefing conditions far from comfortable, they continued towards the island.

An Exhilarating 19.5 Knots

Just five miles from Block Island, the crew faced another challenge. To reach their anchorage, they needed to bear away around the northern tip of the island, bringing the boat directly downwind in increasingly large seas.

The outgoing Long Island Sound tide created steep, powerful waves, presenting challenging surfing conditions.

What began as an intimidating situation soon turned into an exhilarating demonstration of the new 1160XL’s capabilities.

The catamaran accelerated down the waves, reaching an impressive top speed of 19.5 knots.

Despite the demanding conditions, the boat’s increased forward buoyancy and powerful reverse bows performed exceptionally well, never burying into the waves as the catamaran surfed downwind.

For Richard, it was a powerful confirmation of the design improvements introduced in the new generation model.

After an unforgettable sail, the crew were relieved to motor safely into Block Island Harbour, where they finally relaxed over cheese, crackers and a few well deserved glasses of red wine.

500 Miles of Real World Cruising

The adventure continued with a journey of approximately 500 nautical miles from Newport to Annapolis, offering a remarkable variety of cruising conditions along the American East Coast.

The route combined protected water sailing through Long Island Sound and Delaware Bay with open ocean passages along the Newport to Long Island and New Jersey coastlines.

Throughout the voyage, Richard and Kerry experienced everything from strong winds and challenging seas to gentle breezes and remarkably calm conditions.

One of the most memorable sections involved navigating the waters of Long Island Sound towards New York. With little wind available, the crew spent an entire day motoring, at times working against a four knot tidal current.

The Seawind 1160XL, equipped with twin 50 hp outboard engines and a mainsail with three reefs, proved to be a versatile cruising companion throughout the changing conditions.

For most of the journey, Richard and Kerry sailed comfortably as a couple, stopping each evening either at anchor or occasionally in a marina.

The varied passage provided an opportunity to experience the boat not simply as a performance catamaran, but as a practical cruising yacht designed for extended adventures.

Richard shared his impressions during the passage:

“Overall, the boat has performed brilliantly. It is a delight to sail and easy for Kerry and I to handle. It is fast under sail.”

Richard Ward · Seawind Founder and CEO

He was particularly impressed by the new reverse bow design and its increased reserve buoyancy, which had already demonstrated its value during the challenging conditions encountered between Newport and Block Island.

Light Winds, Big Performance

Not every day brought dramatic seas and strong winds.

While sailing up Delaware Bay, Richard and Kerry encountered exceptionally calm conditions, with following winds of just 5 to 6 knots.

With the mainsail lowered, they experimented with an asymmetric spinnaker borrowed from the Thai Seawind 1160XL, flying it without a pole and attaching the tack directly to the bow.

Although not an ideal arrangement, it allowed them to continue sailing in very light conditions at approximately 3 knots.

By early afternoon, the wind had increased to 15 to 18 knots, transforming the experience once again.

The Seawind 1160XL responded beautifully, sailing comfortably at speeds of 9 to 10 knots.

From surfing down large Atlantic waves at 19.5 knots to making the most of light breezes in Delaware Bay, the journey highlighted the remarkable range of conditions in which the new model can perform.

The next stage would take Richard and Kerry through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, leading into Chesapeake Bay and ultimately Annapolis for the Sailboat Show.

A New Generation, The Same Seawind Spirit

The Seawind 1160XL builds on the success of one of the brand’s most iconic models, introducing significant design refinements while preserving the qualities that made the original 1160 so popular among cruising sailors.

For Richard, who has been closely involved in the development of both generations, the evolution is particularly meaningful.

“The new model SW1160XL is an incredible boat and a great successor of the iconic SW1160. It is a wonderful boat to sail in all conditions and it makes cruising an absolute delight. I’m really excited to be introducing this new model to USA sailors.”

Richard Ward · Seawind Founder and CEO

The Newport to Annapolis passage offered a valuable demonstration of those qualities.

From powerful offshore conditions to calm inland waterways, the new 1160XL proved itself as a capable and comfortable cruising catamaran. Equally important was its ease of handling, allowing Richard and Kerry to manage the boat confidently throughout the journey.

For a cruising catamaran under 40 feet, the combination of sailing performance, seaworthiness and everyday practicality is central to the Seawind philosophy.

From Newport to Annapolis, Continuing the Legacy

The journey carried special significance beyond the sailing itself.

Twenty years after the original Seawind 1160 made its award winning American debut, Richard and Kerry returned to the same waters aboard its successor, bringing together Seawind’s heritage and the latest generation of its cruising catamarans.

The new Seawind 1160XL has also been nominated for the 2027 Cruising World Boat of the Year and SAIL Top 10 Best Boats awards, creating another exciting parallel with the original model’s achievements in 2006.

Whether or not history repeats itself at the awards, the voyage has already demonstrated something equally important: the spirit of performance, seaworthiness and adventure that defined the original Seawind 1160 remains very much alive in its successor.

Twenty years, two generations, and one enduring passion for sailing. The Seawind story continues.